Media

On this page you can see how Rio's story has been covered in the media - read newspaper and magazine articles, listen to Rio being interviewed on the radio, or watch YouTube videos of #BLADEBOYRIO in action.

Exclusive Photo and Video Shoot by Lee Thompson for The Sun: 30th December
2012 - This was the first time we saw Rio running with his new blade and he just
loved every minute of it and didn't want to stop, even when the Photographer
asked him to stop so that he could get another shot of him
running again! Rio
was bounding around all over the place - he has literally
been given a new
lease of life with this incredible running blade!

The Sportshall Final at the LG Arena in Birmingham on 7th April 2013: #BLADEBOYRIO
loved running in the Under 11's Race with BLADEGIRL CHARLOTTE and Spike T Lion,
the British Athletics Mascot.

The Sportshall Final at the LG Arena in Birmingham on 7th
April 2013: Rio enjoyed the challenge of the Triathlon Event
where he was awarded a certificate for reaching Stage 3 of
the Sportshall Ladder of Success - here he is tackling the mini-hurdles.

Our Aim

To raise money to provide lightweight/high tech prosthetic legs for Rio as he grows, and to raise awareness of the increasing opportunities for young amputees to enjoy sport and leisure through our favourite charities and organisations (see Sponsors and Links) - the sky is the limit and the world is their oyster!

Keeping up with Rio

Rio had the most amazing 2013 with so many fantastic adventures both at
home in the UK at some great para-sport events where he met his Paralympic
heroes - Alan Fonteles Oliveira, Jonnie Peacock, David Weir and Richard
Whitehead - and also abroad in Brazil where he was invited as a special
guest of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee to the School Paralympics in Sao
Paulo, to visit a rehabilitation centre and to spend time with Alan, and
then Rio went to Rio to meet the Rio 2016 Organising Committee to talk about
how London 2012 inspired him, to visit a school who hosted a mini-Paralympic
Games in his honour, and a hospital where he was introduced on stage at the
children's Christmas Party, as well as touring the beautiful sights of the
city he was named after and where his parents honeymooned!

The grand finale of 2013 was a visit to 10 Downing Street where Rio was a
special guest at a reception hosted by Samantha Cameron in support of the
charity Demand, who have designed and manufactured wonderful equipment for
Rio.

2014 has got off to a very exciting start with Rio being given his new
running blade - the Ossur Junior Cheetah Xplore from Dorset Orthopaedic,
custom-designed with the characters from his favourite movie "Rio" - he is
the first child in the UK to receive this "Jonnie Peacock Special" blade
with a lifelike silicone foot, so now he can wear a pair of shoes with his
blade for the first time!

2014 is going to be another fun-filled, action-packed year for our young
aspiring Paralympian with the first event being WheelPower's Primary Sports
Camp at Stoke Mandeville on 22nd March!

Watch this space for 2013/14 updates on the Gallery and Media pages coming
soon.
For the most recent news and photos, follow Rio on Facebook and Twitter!